Improvement in slate-covers



ELIZA I. PHELPS.

SLATE-COVER.

No.174,848, Patented March14,1 876.

T'Y' ITJVESSES [-N'VE-N'TOR jaw 2 J M w f4 (449% By C .Attorney NPETERS, PHOTO-LXTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTUN. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIZA I. PHELPS, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

4 IMPROVEMENT IN SLATE-COVERS.

Specification formirg part of Letters Patent No. 174,848, dated March14, 1876; application filed January 6, 1876.

To all; whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZA I. PHELPS, of Salem, in the county of Essexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Slate-Covers, of which the following is'a specification:

The present invention relates to improvement in slate-covers; andconsists, more particularly, in the application thereto of arithmeticaltables, tables of weights and measures, figures, numerals, letters,drawings, copies, or samples, or other tables or designs, all as "willnow be more fully and in detail set forth and explained.

In the drawings, A denotes the slate, having the usual frame a; and B,the cover. This cover is made of any suitable material, and adapted tobe attached to the slate, so that it can be folded down on the slateupon the sides to protect the same, like as the lids or cover of a bookare folded down on the book-leaves when the book is shut. In the presentinstance this cover is represented as made of pasteboard sides withcloth back, and attached to the slate-frame by means of tacks driventhrough the back and into the frame; but it is evident that thesedetails of construction I can be varied in many ways.

Upon the inside of each leaf of the .cover may be printed, out, marked,stamped, engraved, or otherwise indicated, any of the arithmeticaltables, copies, tables of weights and measures, tables of facts ordates, numerals, samples, letters, patterns, drawings, or other devicesor designs that may be needed or desired, for the use, chiefly, of youngchildren, or in the primary or other schools.

When said symbols, marks, 850., as aforesaid, are thus displayed on thecover of the slate, they are exceedingly convenient for the use of thechild or pupil in study and the usual school exercises, as they areready at hand for reference without any delay or inconvenience. Insteadof placing these, as afore stated, directly upon the cover, they can beprinted on sheets or separate pieces of paper or cloth, or suitablematerial or substance, of any desired shape or form, and then pasted,glued, fastened, or affixed thereto or thereupon in any secure, neat,and desirable manner, and they can be arranged in and upon the cover, asmay be convenient, or as taste may iudicate;or they may be so applied asto be put on or taken olf at will, according as it may be desired tochange them. If desired,

the outside of the covers can be furnished or embellished in the samemanner.

The advantages of this invention over the slate and separate piece ofpaper or cardboard having the tables or other marks or inscriptions, asaforesaid, are very many and very plain, especially to the practicalteacher, and not only is the gain in time and convenience in using thisdevice over anything now known or used very considerable and verydesirable, but, likewise, the economy in cost of ELIZA INNIS PHELPS.

Witnesses MARY E. Brown, SARAH E. HUNT.

